| “We feel that our cause is just and holy; we protest solemnly in the face of mankind that we desire peace at any sacrifice save that of honour and independence; we ask no conquest, no aggrandizement, no concession of any kind from the States with which we were lately confederated; all we ask is to be let alone; that those who never held power over us shall not now attempt our subjugation by arms.” -- Jefferson Davis, 1861 It is said that southerners were (and perhaps still are) harder on Jefferson Davis than even the Unionist were during the Civil War; they did not want to blame their generals for the failure of the Confederacy, so they blamed their politicians. Davis was, of course, the chief politician of the CSA, and seems to have been targeted ever since; from rumors about being captured in women’s clothing at the time of his arrest after the war, to even modern-day jabs -- an example of such can be found in the TV series “The Dukes of Hazzard”, whose main antagonist was known as Jefferson Davis Hogg. In doing this art series, the temptation was there to omit Jefferson Davis due to his controversial status. While it is always a concern to produce works that will be well received, the greater goal of my artwork is foremost to be true to history. Upon studying Davis, I have found a great respect for this man. His beliefs, his endurance, and his uncompromising spirit indeed have earned him a rightful place among the Pride of the Confederacy. No man was more true to his beliefs and his cause. Arguably no man in the Confederacy had a task more daunting or fraught with difficulty. General Robert E. Lee stated that he knew of no one who could have done a better job than Jefferson Davis, or could have even done as good a job. Faced with an impossible task, he never backed down and never personally surrendered. He was, if nothing else, true to his ideals. No man can or should be robbed of honor who possesses such unflinching loyalty to beliefs and ideals. Aside from Davis as a historical figure, taking into account simply art for art’s sake, this work is my favorite in this series. From my sometimes overly-critical eye, I feel this is my best attempt yet in reproducing any person. I don’t know if it is ever possible for an artist to be completely satisfied with their own work - there always seem to be areas where improvement can be made. But as a portrait artist, I feel this rendition of Jefferson Davis has brought me as close to that illusive satisfaction as I have ever been. I believe He who grants all talent and blessing shone down on me especially bright with this piece, and to Him belongs all glory. |
| Copyright 2010, Victoria Heilshorn All rights reserved. All published materials and images are protected under copyright law. |
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| 8.5" X 11" Limited Edition Print Signed and Numbered (of 100) |
| Jefferson Davis |